Chapter 23: Chapter 23 - Courageous Heart
The Lucas family froze in shock. Holmes Lucas and Maeve Lucas, in particular, wore expressions of complete disbelief.
"Harvey Brown, are you out of your mind? How could the Sean family possibly choose Mason Raymond?" Maeve Lucas dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand.
This seemed utterly impossible, unless the Sean family had completely lost their senses.
Harvey Brown shot a cold glare at Maeve Lucas and replied, "I don’t want to believe it either, but the Sean family chose Mason Raymond."
"Remember the girl who visited our house with Mason Raymond a few days ago? That woman is the eldest daughter of the Sean family," Lyla Lucas admitted begrudgingly.
As soon as she finished speaking, a news segment suddenly began playing on the television.
The broadcast featured the Sean family’s banquet.
On screen, Mason Raymond stood confidently speaking from the stage, clearly visible to everyone watching.
Even more shocking was Harvey Brown’s appearance on the TV.
The spotlight illuminated his face, highlighting his embarrassment and regret for all to see.
"Damn it!" Harvey Brown jumped up in anger.
He finally understood why that spotlight had landed on him!
Their intention was to ensure everyone across River City witnessed his humiliation!
"This... this is impossible!" Maeve Lucas’s expression soured dramatically.
Holmes Lucas remained speechless, sitting with a stunned look frozen on his face.
"Mason Raymond, what gives him the right?" Maeve Lucas hissed through clenched teeth.
Harvey Brown gritted his teeth, squeezing his phone so tightly he wished he could disappear into a hole.
"This is terrible! Now that the Sean family has chosen Mason Raymond, won’t he seek revenge?" Maeve Lucas suddenly realized.
Her words triggered Holmes Lucas’s face to darken considerably.
"He definitely won’t let us off the hook..." The memory of Mason’s cold, mocking glare filled Holmes Lucas with dread.
"Quick, go talk to your dad. He must have a solution!" Maeve Lucas suddenly thought of Calvin Lucas.
Among the Lucas family, Calvin Lucas was the only one who had ever shown Mason Raymond any respect. Asking him to plead for forgiveness might be their only option.
With this realization, the entire family rushed to Calvin Lucas’s room.
At that moment, Calvin Lucas sat in his room looking deeply saddened.
Mason Raymond’s departure had affected him deeply as well.
"Dad, stop moping around! You need to beg Mason Raymond for forgiveness!" Maeve Lucas urged frantically.
Calvin Lucas froze momentarily, unable to grasp the situation.
"Ugh, I don’t have time to explain right now," Maeve Lucas said impatiently.
"All you need to know is we absolutely need Mason’s forgiveness! If we can convince him to return, even better!" Holmes Lucas added.
But Calvin Lucas slowly shook his head.
When Mason Raymond left, his determination was absolute; Calvin Lucas knew there was no chance of his return.
"You’re the ones who drove him away, and now you want him back. Do you really think that’s possible?" Calvin Lucas said hopelessly, waving his hand dismissively.
"At least try! If he doesn’t come back, the Lucas family might be finished!" Holmes Lucas warned alarmingly.
Calvin Lucas remained indifferent.
He waved his hand again and murmured quietly, "Enough, enough. It’s all fate. I should never have brought him into the Lucas family for my selfish gains..."
You reap what you sow, and Calvin Lucas had already accepted this truth.
"When we need you most, you always fail us!" Maeve Lucas shouted angrily.
"Fine, I’ll go myself! I’ll beg him personally; I refuse to believe he would dare disrespect me!" Maeve Lucas declared with firm confidence.
——
At this moment, I was sitting in the backyard of the central villa in Longyue Community, lost in thought.
For me, the Lucas family’s attitude was deeply unsettling.
The difference was that I had no feelings left for them, only an unspeakable aversion and disgust.
Soon, I stood up.
I gazed into the distance, murmuring softly, "I won’t ever be as weak as I was before."
The past cannot be altered, but the future can still be pursued.
Just then, Mabel Sean’s car suddenly drove in.
As the car stopped, Mabel Sean stepped out.
Seeing Mabel Sean banished the gloom in my heart, and I couldn’t help but smile.
I quickly stood and walked over to greet her, surprised, saying, "Miss Sean, what brings you here?"
Mabel Sean looked me up and down and replied with a smile, "How are you feeling today?"
"Feeling?" I thought for a moment, then said, "Honestly, this is the first time I’ve experienced what it’s like to be the center of attention—also the first time I’ve felt truly respected."
Mabel Sean giggled.
She stood on tiptoe, playfully patting me on the head, "And do you realize that along with attention comes certain risks?"
"Risks?" I raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat puzzled.
Mabel Sean explained, "Do you know why Jasper Thompson was so antagonistic toward you today? It’s because he fundamentally looks down on you."
"And Jasper Thompson isn’t an exception. Now that everyone knows about your connection with me, the number of people looking to challenge you will only increase."
I didn’t respond immediately.
I stood there pondering for a moment before jokingly saying, "Are you talking about... rival suitors?"
"Get lost!" Mabel Sean rolled her eyes at me.
"But... you might have a point." Mabel Sean said, her tone shifting to seriousness.
I offered a bitter smile. These outcomes had naturally crossed my mind.
With Mabel Sean being such an outstanding woman, it was no surprise that countless people pursued her, each with significant influence.
Though Mabel Sean and I hadn’t defined our relationship, from an outsider’s perspective, Mabel’s favoritism toward me spoke volumes.
"Are you scared?" Mabel Sean asked, blinking curiously.
I looked straight into Mabel’s eyes and said with resolute determination, "If it means being with you, even if there’s a firestorm or a dragon’s lair ahead, I wouldn’t be afraid."
In an instant, the atmosphere froze. The air thickened with intimacy and unspoken feelings.
Mabel Sean’s gaze shimmered like water, her long hair softly brushing against my face in the gentle breeze.
In that moment, a blush unexpectedly spread across Mabel Sean’s cheeks.
I gathered my courage and cautiously asked, "Miss Sean, can I be with you?"
